Finders Keepers

The winning starts this weekend - tune in to the Summer Classic Facebook page tonight for all the details! Must be registered to be eligible (online registration available now off of the website). Additional prizes and cash award opportunities will be announced over the next couple months leading up to the start of the event on June 17th...

If there are any locations you would like to see added as weigh-in stations, let us know and we will try to get them on board with the event - PM me their address and contact info.

Confirmed sponsors so far: Atommik Frabill Plano Savage Gear Automatic Fisherman Cabela's FishUSA Nautic-Sport Hydro Glow Shark Cannonballs Brite-Strike Northland Fishing Tackle Clingerman Taxidermy Green Mt. Sporting Supplies The Angler Magazine Hirsch Taxidermy Aqua-Vu Coyote Ugly Spoons Fish Allure Celox Vital Signs Derk's Tackle Field & Stream Bass Pro Shops L.O.U. Lake Ontario Outdoors Adirondack Outdoors Outdoor Beat NYOutdoorTalk.com More are in the works. We will be announcing all sponsors and new weigh-in locations on the tournament Facebook page, so Like and follow the page to get all the updates and announcements as they happen! We will be connecting with other events around the state to offer additional cash or product award incentives for those entered into the Classic (ex. $100 cash award for the largest lake trout weighed in by a registered angler at the Fair Haven Challenge). We all know the angst felt by many anglers regarding the Lake Trout numbers in Lake O - bring them in to your local weigh-ins this summer and you could cash in!! Just 3,000 anglers in the event (from across the entire state and targeting different species, not just Lake Trout anglers) will return $50 Weekly cash awards for each of the largest fish entered in all 10 fish categories and 10 places per fish category with $750 1st place checks plus a 1-in-10 shot at $20,000... Not too shabby for a $25 entry!

2017 NYS Summer Classic Tournament (June 17 - Aug. 31) **Official Tournament Announcement** After a very successful Winter Classic event this past winter season and in response to angler request, I will be running the statewide NYS Summer Classic Fishing Tournament covering all NY State waterways and featuring 10 fish categories: *Pike *Walleye *Lake Trout *Bass (SMB/LMB) *Pickerel *Catfish *Carp *Crappie *Yellow Perch *Panfish (Sunfish/Bluegill) All categories start with the Top 3 placing and increase in placements with angler participation. Plus a $500 cash award for the largest Rock Bass weighed-in and a $250 cash award for the largest Bowfin weighed-in. There will also be a Youth Division (Top 3 in each category). With enough angler participation the Grand Prize cash award (awarded by random draw from all 10 1st place anglers) could reach $50K+, with kayaks, quads, and Tundra's to give away at higher participation levels according to the schedule listed on the website. Sponsors are starting to come forward for the event and will be listed on the tournament website once confirmed. There are currently 51 weigh-in locations (see map on website) and I am hoping to increase to 60-70 before the event kicks off on June 17th. Online leaderboards are updated multiple times per day. There are also protocols for fishing after hours and overnight. Various events across the state will have mobile weigh-ins set up for angler convenience and to allow for specific C&R options (especially for Bass events). Registration for the general event is only $25/angler with an optional $10 Lunker Pool, and $5/youth angler for the Youth event. There is also a 1-Day pass option ($10/angler/day) for anglers on charters and with guides. Online registration is now open and available off of the website at: www.NYSsummerclassic.com Registration at most weigh-in locations will open around May 1st (when the fliers & registration materials will be distributed). The full tournament rules & regs can be found on the website as well. Like and follow the event on Facebook for the latest updates & tournament information. Feel free to ask questions! Let's get our youth outside and engaged in the sport of fishing, and have some fun this summer!! More to come - stay tuned!!

Mimicking the NYS Winter Classic, this is a statewide event including all waterways of NY State running from the opening of Bass Season June 17th - August 31st. The event features 10 species categories: Pike, Walleye, Lake Trout, Pickerel, Bass (smb/lmb), Carp, Catfish, Crappie, Yellow Perch, and Panfish (sunfish/bluegill). Additional prizes include a $500 Cash Award for the largest Rock Bass and a $250 Cash Award for the largest Bowfin weighed-in. There will be a cash payout based on the number of anglers participating (payout schedule listed on website) including a Grand Cash Prize with 500 or more anglers and Weekly Cash Awards for every category starting at 1,000 anglers (ex. 1000 anglers = $5,000 Grand Prize plus payouts for Top 5 in each category and $25 for the largest fish entered in each category each week of the 10-week long event). Over 50 weigh-in locations are scattered across the state to bring fish in to with protocols to account for those fishing after hours and at night. Also includes a Youth Angler Division. Registration is only $25/angler (with an optional $10 Lunker Pool) or $5/youth angler and available online off of the website or at most weigh-in locations. More information and tournament rulles & regs can be found on the website at: www.NYSsummerclassic.com Questions can be directed to tournament director Tim Thomas at (585) 330-0494 Turn every day into a tourney day this summer!!

Let's hope mother nature cooperates this year! Can'wait for this event - always a highlight of the season!!

The 2017 event is off to a great start with over 440 anglers competing and some nice fish already weighed-in. Follow the event on Facebook for the latest in tourney news, updates, and new leaders. If you're not in the event yet, it's only $25 and registration will remain open through the event - you must register by 7am on the first day you wish to start entering fish. Night time fishing has been included this year and there are 58 weigh-in locations for this year's event! Still over 6 weeks of tourney action - register today and join in the fun!!

Pickerel that big could take the NYS Winter Classic Tournament - should get in if you're not already!! Winner last year was only 6.40 lbs...

Looking good, keep it up!!

The 2017 Winter Classic is underway with over 300 anglers competing and growing fast! The payouts have already increased in value and will increase again to Top 5 once we reach 500 anglers. The Lunker Pool is now over $1700 providing the first place anglers in the Lunker Pool with checks over $200 at this point, plus the 1 in 7 shot at the Clam Outdoors $2,500 Grand Prize Cash Award. The Weekly Prize Packages continue to grow in value as we acquire more items and gift certificates to pack into them! More sponsors are also coming forward as our exposure on Facebook alone has grown to monstrous levels (reaching over 16,000 people with over 1,650 engaged in the posts)!! Many nice fish have hit the scales already as we have seen movement on the live leaderboards daily. Stay up with all the latest announcements and tourney news by following the event on Facebook. Some of our anglers will be guest speakers on the Let's Catch Fish radio show over he next few weeks, including Scott Brauer from Makiplastic and Rob Goffredo from Bartel Rd. Bait & Tackle this Sat. Registration runs throughout the event - anglers must register by 7am on the first day they wish to start entering fish. Online registrants (www.NYSwinterclassic.com) get entered into a Power auger Raffle, and those who enter at a shop get entered into that shop's Shanty Raffle. Remember, every day you are out fishing stop in to any of the weigh-in stations with a fish (whether it places or not) and gain an entries into the shanty raffles (one entry per person per day per station). Get registered today and join in the fun!!

We are now up to 58 weigh-in locations, all of which will have a shanty to give away! We will also be running a raffle for a power auger for those who register off the website online. If you come to the Fish307 event this Sat and register, you will get a shot at some extra gear (potentially 2 ice combos, 2 manual augers, and a power auger pending the number of registrants) with the first 25 to register getting a bonus! Anglers have started to hit the ice and we expect the flood of registrations to start - get in on this year's largest event and register today! www.NYSwinterclassic.com

I appeared on the Outdoor Beat show last week discussing many of the details of this year's event, the prize structure, and many of the new products being given away! Have a listen and learn why this event will be one of the largest tournament events in the NE this year! https://livestream.com/LCTV20/events/2964614

Thanks for the input Shane! When it comes to the larger prizes, politics come into play along with the negotiations for the sponsorships that drive those prizes. It was discussed whether the Grand Prize would be a lump sum or split up and it was decided to be a lump sum this year. It was also negociated with Clam for the Case Canoe to go to the overall largest fish. My hope is that we can build enough revenue to carry a large sum over to the next year and then ramp up the 1st placements. This won't be possible for a few years yet though, as I have a substantial debt to eliminate first, but it is in the plans for the future of the event. As for the Case Canoe, it will likely go to either the pike or trout category winner. There are many waterways around the state with 20+ lb pike and any of the tribs for Lake Ontario can hold large trout as well, so while they aren't as prolific as panfish, there are still a ton of waterways available for anglers to go for the largest fish - this may enlighten many anglers to the true diversity and health of the fishery in our state as we see big fish coming from areas they didn't think big fish existed. Like the 20+ lb pike my brother in law put on the ice in Honeoye Lake last year! Each year will be different as far as sponsorships go and what I have to work with, but hopefully I'll be able to gain enough of a following that these will add to the prize structure and not determine it. This year our prize structure is simply amazing and I am expecting a sizable vent this year!

They were a station for us but this year they said that they didn't need or want the extra business our event would bring them. I guess they are doing quite well on their own...

The event now has over $75k in sponsored cash & prizes, including 54 shanties to give away! New weigh-in locations have been added to the map as the event continues to grow (http://www.nyswinterclassic.com/2015Weigh-In-Station-Map.html) - registration is only $25 and available at most weigh-in locations as well as online off of the website. Stay tuned for more updates!

The NYS Ice Pro-Am Series will include 4 events this year: January 29 - Chaumont Bay - Open Team Event February 4 - Oneida Lake - Open Team Event February 11 - Sodus Bay - Open Team Event March 11 - Sodus Bay - Big Fish Saturday for IPA Team Invitational March 12 - Sodus Bay - IPA Team Invitational Costs: Each Team Event: $100/team (optional $20 lunker pool) Triple Crown Trophy Title: ($100/team) Invitational BFS: $50/team (only those teams fishing the IPA Invitational can compete) Invitational: $275/team (max of 15 teams accepted on a 1st paid basis)(Optional $20 lunker pool) Each event is considered a separate event, so teams (1 or 2 anglers) can fish one or more events. Those who fish all 3 team event can go for the Triple Crown Title and the coveted Triple Crown Cup Trophy. Full details per event, rules & regs, etc. can be found on the Series Website at: www.NYSiceproam.com

The NYS Ice Pro-Am Series will include 4 events this year: January 28 - Chaumont Bay - Open Team Event February 4 - Oneida Lake - Open Team Event February 11 - Sodus Bay - Open Team Event March 11 - Sodus Bay - Big Fish Saturday for IPA Team Invitational March 12 - Sodus Bay - IPA Team Invitational Costs: Each Team Event: $100/team (optional $20 lunker pool) Triple Crown Trophy Title: ($100/team) Invitational BFS: $50/team (only those teams fishing the IPA Invitational can compete) Invitational: $275/team (max of 15 teams accepted on a 1st paid basis)(Optional $20 lunker pool) Each event is considered a separate event, so teams (1 or 2 anglers) can fish one or more events. Those who fish all 3 team event can go for the Triple Crown Title and the coveted Triple Crown Cup Trophy. Full details per event, rules & regs, etc. can be found on the Series Website at: www.NYSiceproam.com